Japan to recruit Bangladeshi workers from next April

Bangladesh and Japan have signed an agreement on employment skills development under which Japan will begin recruiting workers from Bangladesh on April 1, 2027, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said on October 19.

The ministry said the agreement, known as the ESDP-MOC (Memorandum of Cooperation on Employment Skills Development), was finalised and signed on October 17 following nearly a year of efforts by the ministry and the Japanese government.

According to the ministry’s press release, its secretary signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh. Representatives of Japan's Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and National Police Agency signed on behalf of Japan.

The agreement will initially remain in force for five years and will automatically be extended for another five years, bringing its total duration to 10 years, the ministry mentioned.

The two sides will formally exchange a copy of the document during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Japan, according to the ministry.

Equal Employment Opportunities

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the agreement would provide maximum protection for workers and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in sending and receiving them.

He said employment in Japan would also help Bangladeshi workers to develop their skills and offer them opportunities for higher wages and long-term residence in the country.

Under the agreement, Bangladeshi workers will receive legal protection equal to that afforded to Japanese workers, while men and women will have equal opportunities in the workplace, the ministry said.

The press release also stated that female foreign workers cannot be dismissed or treated unfairly because of pregnancy or childbirth. The agreement contains no provision requiring them to return to their home countries for those reasons.

The ministry’s announcement did not specify how many workers Japan plans to recruit, which sectors they will work in, or the wages and employment conditions that will apply.